That’s Priscilla Templeton, the eleven-year-old watermelon seed-spitting champion from my middle grade work in progress.

The summer I lost my two front teeth I became the first girl ever to win the Watermelon Thump seed-spitting contest. I catapulted my seed through the wide-open gap in my mouth, sending it 19 feet 3 inches past the reigning champion, ten year-old Georgie Spunkmeyer. When Sheriff Humphrey presented me with a crown carved out of watermelon, Georgie smashed his slice into the ground and vowed to lose all his teeth for next year’s competition.

           “Priscilla Templeton, I’m gonna get you!” Georgie grumbled, standing on his short second-place podium.

            I laughed. “And do what? Spit on me? You can’t reach that far!”

            It served Georgie right to lose. He was the reason I didn’t have my two front teeth in the first place…

 

Talented artist and illustrator Val Webb brought Priscilla to life. Thanks, Val!